It’s that time again! Another Olympics inspiring national unity is now behind us and we brace for that periodic flooding of our mailboxes, inboxes and media of all kinds. As we navigate a deluge that can feel exciting, stressful or downright exhausting, I wanted to share some insights from my recent stint as a Congressional staffer.
Capitol Hill is a land ruled by pin-wearing personalities, but actually stewarded by legions of newly minted college grads. These folks control the fate of billions in federal funding and craft legal constructs affecting the lives of millions of Americans for years or even decades to come. There is a distinct vacuum of real-world experience and genuine expertise; all too often, this void is filled by outside voices with extraordinary initiative, questionable motives and a paucity of perspective.This is where you can play your part! I invite you to visit our Action Center where you can customize templated letters to your Congressional representatives. Your voice is crucial to strengthen the Public Health and Preventive Medicine programs that are so vital to our specialty and our communities. At the very least, your voice can help keep our programs off the proverbial chopping block and help our representatives understand who we are and how we protect their constituents.
So, while others will ask you for your vote, I humbly ask you for your voice…I hope you can spare a few minutes so they can hear you on Capitol Hill.
Andrew Karasick, MD, MPH, MBA, FACPM
Chair, Advocacy Committee